June 18, 2013 06:43 PM CDTJune 18, 2013 06:43 PM CDTGrant: What to expect from Matt Harrison when he returns and prediction for Rangers vs. Cardinals

Grant: What to expect from Matt Harrison when he returns and prediction for Rangers vs. Cardinals

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Louis DeLuca/Staff Photographer

Texas Rangers catcher A.J. Pierzynski (12) flips his bat away after hitting a second-inning home run during the Oakland Athletics vs. the Texas Rangers major league baseball game at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington on Monday, June 17, 2013.

Evan Grant: He is old. He's got more gray hair than me, but then again anybody with any hair probably has more gray hair than me. Lance is a professional hitter and his numbers as a right-handed hitter this year are better than his career splits, which tells me that there is a mechanical issue on the left side. Berkman talked on Monday about not building a strong front side when hitting from the left and part of that is due to the four surgeries he's had on his right knee. If it is physically possible, I believe that Berkman will work through it. And the good thing is that even when he's struggling, he still figures out a way to get on base. He may not drive balls or produce runs, but even when he slumps he's not a total drag on a lineup.

Duke ... if you were Mike Maddux, would you rule out Matt Harrison having any meaningful innings this season?

Evan Grant: No. I think Harrison could be back in late August or early September. September might give you five starts, two of which are against the A's. A fresh left-handed arm vs. Oakland in September, plus three more starts? Meaningful. Ogando will return to the rotation, perhaps in the next two weeks. Not sure I agree with the Rangers decision to return him to the rotation because I think he is going to keep having soreness issues as a starter, but perhaps it's just for the short term until the Rangers can form a rotation of Darvish, Holland, Lewis, Perez and maybe one of the young kids or a trade acquisition. Then Ogando in the bullpen, perhaps with the return of Soria, would give the Rangers, by far, the best bullpen in the league.

David ... What's your prediction for us in St. Louis?

Evan Grant: Rangers win 2 of 3. Holland beats Tyler Lyons on Friday and Darvish outduels Adam Wainwright on the big stage on Sunday. On Saturday, the Rangers are left to wonder what would have happened if they had chosen Shelby Miller in the first round in 2009 instead of Matt Purke and they weighed that very decision back in 2009.

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